Abstract

We mapped the distribution and diversity of mitochondrial D-loop haplotypes among 502 New Zealand house mice (Mus musculus). By widespread sampling from 74 sites, we identified 14 new haplotypes. We used Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions to estimate the genetic relationships between the New Zealand representatives of Mus musculus domesticus (all six known clades) and M. m. castaneus (clade HG2), and mice from other locales. We defined four distinct geographic regions of New Zealand with differing haplotype diversity indices. Our Results suggest (a) two independent pre-1840 invasions by mice of different origin (domesticus clade E and castaneus clade HG2) at opposite ends of the country; (b) multiple later invasions by domesticus clades E and F accompanying the post-1840 development of New Zealand port facilities in the central regions, plus limited local incursions by domesticus clades A, B, C and D1; (c) a separate invasion of Chatham I. by castaneus clade HG2; (d) previously undescribed New Zealand haplotypes, potentially the products of localised indigenous mutation, and (e) hybridisation between different lineages.

Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank Paul Jamieson for allowing us to re-sequence his stored collections, and Max Oulton for drawing the maps (Figs. 1, 2). The retrieving and resampling of the stored mice was done with the help of Ken Ayers. Representative samples to complete the South Island survey were contributed by Colin Bishop, Mike Bowie, Leon Dalziel, Terry Farrell, Tony Fortune, Ian Gamble, Peter Lawn, Kathryn Murdoch, James Reardon, Kirsty Owens and other DOC staff and volunteers. Sequences were generated by John Longmore of the University of Waikato DNA Sequencing Facility, and Ecogene (Auckland). We thank Jeremy Searle and Eleanor Jones for help in checking earlier versions of this MS. The study was funded by the University of Waikato Strategic Investment Fund, courtesy Prof Bruce Clarkson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with contributions from Lincoln University. We thank the Oregon State University Center for Genomics Research and Biocomputing and the Advanced Computing Facility (ACF) staff at The University of Kansas for their support with our high performance computing. We keenly appreciate the detailed, searching reviews provided by the Editor and two referees.

Gabriel SI, Mathias ML, Searle JB (2015) Of mice and the ‘Age of Discovery’: the complex history of colonisation of the Azorean archipelagpo by the house mouse (Mus musculus) as revealed by mitochondrial DNA variation. J Evol Biol 28:130–145CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar